Wrench joint



p 1941- w. H. O DLUM 7 2,256,624

WRENCH JHIOINT Filed Dec. 14, 1940 C- I H k;

flag wa Patented Sept. 23, 1941 WRENCH JOINT William H. Odlum, Chicago,Ill., assignor to Duro Metal Products Company, Chicago,;1ll., acorporation of Illinois Application December 14, 1940, Serial No.370,095

11 Claims.

The present invention relates to wrench joints, and is particularlyconcerned with a universal joint of the type commonly used inconjunction with Wrenches, such as socket wrenches and similarlyoperated tools.

In using a tool of this type, it is frequently necessary to work inclose or cramped quarters. In such cases, it is desirable that thejointed parts of the tool remain in preadjusted relationship until thewrench or other tool is brought into engagement with the nut or part tobe serviced. The engagement between the parts, however, should not be sostrong as to interfere with the normal universal movement of the partsin performing a working operation.

One method of frictionally engaging the various parts of a universaljoint of this general type is shown in Patent No. 1,978,590, issuedtober 30, 1934, and assigned to the assignee of the present application.Such a frictional engagement of the parts, while satisfactory foruniversal joints of approximately half-inch size or V larger, has notbeen found suitable for universal joints smaller than the half-inchsize, due to the fact-that in such construction it is necessary tocounterbore the pivot holes in the articulating joint member, which ispositioned between the two principalmembers of the universal joint. Suchcounterboring removes an amount of metal which has been found unduly toweaken universal joints of a siz smaller than one-half inch.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved universaljoint for wrenches and the like.

Another object is frictionally to engage pivotally connected portions ofa universal wrench joint.

Another object is to engage pivotally connected parts of a universalwrench joint with a frictional force suflicient to support the partsthereof in adjusted relationship, but not suflicient to interfere with anormal working operation of such parts.

Another object is to provide a simple frictional connection betweenpivoted portions of a universal wrench joint.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description and the accompanying drawing, in which similarcharacters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the severalViews.

Referring to the drawing of, which there is one sheet:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevatien showing a universal wrench jointconstructed according to the invention, a handle portion and a socketwrench associated therewith being indicated in dotted lines; I

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the plane of the line 22of Fig. 1;

, Fig. 3 is a plan view of a frictional spring member employed intheconstruction of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of the frictional spring member shown inFig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a View in perspective of a double pivotally mounted connectingblock employed in the construction of Fig. 2;

Fig. .6- is a longitudinal sectional view taken on a plane similar tothat of Fig. 2, and showing a modified typeof tool and embodying a modeified type of frictional spring member;

Fig. '7 is a view in perspective of a modified type of frictional springmember employed in the construction of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a View in perspective similar to Fig. 5, showing a doublepivoted connecting block of the type employed in the structure of Fig.6.

Referring to Fig. 1, the numeral II indicates in its entirety auniversal wrench joint which is composed mainly of three principalportions, namely, a forked handle portion l2, an intermediate pivotedjoint member l3, and a forked tool-engaging portion I4. The handleportion 12, as illustrated in Fig. 1, is provided with a rectangularsocket in which to receive a rectangular handle Hi. The forked handlemember I2 is generally cylindrical in shape, the end [6 thereof beingbifurcated and having aligned openings in opposite sides of thebifurcated portion to receive a pivot pin H. Thejoint member, I3 is hereillustrated as being rectangular in section, but the exact conformationthereof is subject to variation as will be apparent to those versed inthe art, and is slightly smaller in width than the separation of thebifurcatedarms l6 of the member l2, so as to receive the sides of aU-shaped spring member l8 between the sides of the joint member l3 andthe inner faces of the arms Itv when the parts are assembled as shown inFigs. 1 and 2. The member I3 and each side of the U-shaped spring memberl8 are provided with openings to receive the pivot pin ll therein. Anopening I9 is provided centrally of the U-shaped spring member 3 toreceive a pin 20, which is secured in a hole drilled centrally of theend of the joint member l3. The nn c on t en he vo ed nt m mber 13 andthe -s aped pring. 1. rov ded b th s I have found in the practice of mypresent invention that by varying-the thickness and spring tension of myfrictionally engaging spring members I am able to attain any reasonabledesired degree of frictional engagement between the articulated parts ofa wrench joint and with no appreciable decrease in strength thereof. Itis also possible to attain a material variation in the divergentfromeach other, as indicated in Figs.

3 and 4, so that in inserting the joint member l3, with the spring I8assembled therewith, be

tween the arms l6 of the forked member I2,-the

sides of'the U-shaped spring member l8 will be displacedinwardly againstthe resilient action of the spring. When inserted in this manner betweenthe sides of the bifurcated member [2, the sides of the spring will beforced outwardly by the resilient action of the spring into frictionalengagement arms IS.

The bifurcated tool-engaging portion 14 is piv otally connected by meansof a pivot pin 2| to the opposite end of the articulating joint membar l3, in a manner similar to that of connecting the handle member l2 to thejoint member I 3. A'U-shaped spring 22, similar to the spring [8,

'is' mounted over the oppositeend of the member I3 and is provided withan opening 23 which is-engaged by. a second positioning pin 24 ,in a

.manner. similar to that described for the first pivotal connection.

' The tool-engaging portion I 4 is here illustrated 'asihaving'arectangular tool-engaging studv 25 formed integrally therewith, the stud25 being provided .with' a conventional type of spring-pressed ballcatch 26 embodied therein to engage a tool or other element, such as thewrench socket 27 indicated as in operative position' thereon.

r T .Inthe modified structureillustrated in Fig. 6, r a handle portion30 of the type generally referred to 'by'the industry. as a.speederhandle is 'provided with. a bifurcated end portion,3|,, adapted U shapedspring member 33 therein, in a manner similar to that described for; theconstruction illustratedin Figs. .1 to: 5, inclusive, the partsspringitselfbefore tempering, as best illustrated in Fig. 7. The tab 36isof asiae and extension to fit within the recess inthe end of the mem-1 I ber 32Tto anchor the U,shaped spring 33 to the joint member 32, to'prevent independent rotative movement of the spring and the joint mem-.

her on their common pivot pin34.

' A square tool-engaging stud 31 is formed on a bifurcated tool-engagingportion 38 in a manner similar to that illustrated and described for theconstruction of the member l4 ofFigs. 1 and 5 '2.'A second1Ushapedspring member 39 is assembled over the end of the member 32 with a tab40 inserted in a groove 4| inthe member 32; This assembly'is pivotallymounted between the arms of the tool-engaging portion 38 by means of apivot pin 42 in a manner similar to 36, thejoint the assembly of thehandle member member32, and the spring 33.

frictional engagement between the parts without changing the thicknessof the springs, but merely by varying the degree of divergence betweenthe sides of the spring members before assembling them with the otherparts of the structure.

7, I have found further that the use of the presentfrictional springconnection is suitable for use in all sizes of universal wrench jointsfrom the smallest to the largest now being manufac- 'tured, and that theuse of the frictional spring with the inner faces of the 7 connectiondoes not complicate the manufacture of the universal joint since thespring has a tendency to holdthe parts in assembledposition evenbeforethe pivot pins are inserted. Sincethere is no appreciable flexing.of thespring during v "to receive an articulating joint member .31 and,

use, and since the sides of the spring have a tendency to separate tocompensate for. any wear which may occur between the sides of the springand the inner faces of the bifurcated co-operation portion, theconnection will remain operative and without appreciable change. infrictional engagement throughout the life. of theuniversal joint. j

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, manymodifications may.

be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I ,donotwish tobe limited to the precise details of construction set forth,.but desire to avail myself of all changes within the scope of. theappended claims;

Having thus described my inventiorriwhat I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

a 1. A wrench joint comprising a forked having parallel inner faces, aco-operating pivoted joint element having .parallel sides mountedbetween said parallel inner facesto be "spaced inwardly therefrom, and aspring'embracing an end and said parallel sides of said joint element,the sides of said spring, being held in compression between the innerfaces; ofsaid forked element, said spring being connected to said jointelement to move pivotally therewith. 1

2. In a wrench joint having a forked element and a co-operative pivotedjoint element, a frictional spring traversing an end of saidjoint'element and extendinglong'itudinally of the sides of said jointelement, said spring engaging said. joint element to move pivotallytherewith,;and said spring being held in compression between the sidesof said forked element. i

3; In a wrench joint having a forked element andace-operatingpivotedjoint element, a frictional leaf spring traversingan endof said joint element and interposed between a side of said jointelement and said forked element, the pive otal connection between saidforked element and 'ment, a centerstud'protruding from an end of saidjoint element, a U shaped leaf frictional spring traversing an end ofsaid joint element with said stud penetrating the web of said'spring,

said spring extending longitudinally of the sides gaging-said forkedelement.

of said joint element, said spring frictionally en el emerit- 5. In awrench universal joint having a forked element and a co-operatingpivoted joint element, a center stud protruding from an end of saidjoint element, a U shaped leaf frictional spring traversing an end ofsaid joint element with said stud penetrating the web of said spring,said spring extending longitudinally of the sides of said joint element,said spring being pivoted concentrically with said joint element, saidspring frictionally engaging said forked element.

6. In a wrench universal joint having a forked element and aco-operating pivoted joint element, said joint element having a recessin an end thereof, a U shaped leaf frictional spring traversing an endof said joint element, a por-' tion of the web of said spring beingoffset and positioned in said recess, said spring extendinglongitudinally of the side of said joint element, said springfriotionally engaging said forked element.

'7. In a wrench joint having a pair of forked elements and aco-operating pivoted joint element, said forked elements being pivotedto said joint element in planes substantially at right angles to eachother, a frictional spring traversing an end of said joint element andextending longitudinally of the sides of said joint element, said springengaging said joint element to move pivotally therewith.

8. In a wrench joint having a pair of forked elements and a co-operatingpivoted joint element, said forked elements being pivoted to said jointelement in planes substantially at right angles to each other, africtional spring traversing an end of said joint element and extendinglongitudinally of the sides of said joint element, said spring havinganchoring engagement with one of said elements, and being pivotallymounted to move pivotally with another of said elements.

9. In a wrench joint having a pair of forked elements and a co-operatingpivoted joint element, said forked elements being pivoted to said jointelement in planes substantially at right angles to each other, africtional spring of U shape, positioned within each of said forkedelements, and pivoted concentrically therein with said joint element,said spring having interlocking connection with one of said elements,and frictional engagement with another of said elements.

10. In a wrench joint having a forked element and a co-operating pivotedjoint element, a frictional spring traversing an end of said jointelement and extending longitudinally of the sides of said joint element,said spring having interlocking engagement with one of said elements,and having frictional engagement with the other of said elements, saidspring being penetrated by a pivotal connection between said elements.

11. A wrench joint comprising a forked element, a co-operating pivotedjoint element, and a spring overlying an end and embracing two oppositesides of said joint element, said spring being interposed between thejoint element and the forked element, and connected to one of saidelements to move pivotally therewith.

WILLIAM H. ODLUM.

